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Man of My Dreams
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26A romance author is shocked when one of her characters-in-progress seemingly comes to life… but is he too good to be true, in this dramatic and twisty thriller perfect for fans of Ashley Winstead and Kate Alice Marshall, where the truth really is stranger than fiction.
Bestselling romance author Ivy Harcourt has been as unlucky in love as she’s been successful in writing—as her sad relationship track attests, there are no good dating options left in New York . . . Until she rescues an escaped dog in the park, and runs into Liam. Charming, British, hot architect Liam. The exact description of the love interest in her next book.
When an instant connection leads to a whirlwind relationship, Ivy is convinced she’s found the dream man. Except he may be too perfect. He may be hiding something.
And Ivy may have secrets of her own.
Bestselling romance author Ivy Harcourt has been as unlucky in love as she’s been successful in writing—as her sad relationship track attests, there are no good dating options left in New York . . . Until she rescues an escaped dog in the park, and runs into Liam. Charming, British, hot architect Liam. The exact description of the love interest in her next book.
When an instant connection leads to a whirlwind relationship, Ivy is convinced she’s found the dream man. Except he may be too perfect. He may be hiding something.
And Ivy may have secrets of her own.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 2, 2026
About the author
Olivia Worley
8 books530 followersOlivia Worley is an author born and raised in New Orleans. A graduate of Northwestern University, she now lives in NYC, where she spends her time writing thrillers, over-analyzing episodes of The Bachelor, and hoping someone will romanticize her for reading on the subway.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 out of 5 stars! ⭐️ Review to come!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3★)
I absolutely devoured the first part of this book… but I’m not entirely sure what happened after that.
The premise alone hooked me: a romance author meets the literal embodiment of her fictional book boyfriend in real life. Coincidence? Fate? Or something much darker? (YOU vibes!!!)
Ivy, a bestselling romance author, meets Liam; a very charming, British, hot architect ... who is basically the exact description of the love interest in the book she’s currently writing. From there, things spiral. We get twists, stalking vibes, murder situations, secrets on both sides… and in the beginning, I genuinely could not put it down.
But somewhere around the halfway mark (maybe closer to 60%) I started feeling like I was reading 2 different books (same characters around) at the same time (does this makes any sense?anyway...). It’s like the blurb set up one direction and then the story quietly pivoted into another plot entirely. It wasn’t bad, just… different from what I thought I had signed up for.
The pacing stayed steady though and I was still curious enough to keep reading. Some twists worked, some were predictable and overall it remained entertaining. But that strong, thriller vibe from the beginning slowly faded for me.
Now for the ending... while everything technically wraps up, I felt like I might've needed just a little more. One or two extra chapters to really wrap it up with a red bow.
Overall, it was interesting and definitely readable, just maybe not what I hoped it will be.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
I absolutely devoured the first part of this book… but I’m not entirely sure what happened after that.
The premise alone hooked me: a romance author meets the literal embodiment of her fictional book boyfriend in real life. Coincidence? Fate? Or something much darker? (YOU vibes!!!)
Ivy, a bestselling romance author, meets Liam; a very charming, British, hot architect ... who is basically the exact description of the love interest in the book she’s currently writing. From there, things spiral. We get twists, stalking vibes, murder situations, secrets on both sides… and in the beginning, I genuinely could not put it down.
But somewhere around the halfway mark (maybe closer to 60%) I started feeling like I was reading 2 different books (same characters around) at the same time (does this makes any sense?anyway...). It’s like the blurb set up one direction and then the story quietly pivoted into another plot entirely. It wasn’t bad, just… different from what I thought I had signed up for.
The pacing stayed steady though and I was still curious enough to keep reading. Some twists worked, some were predictable and overall it remained entertaining. But that strong, thriller vibe from the beginning slowly faded for me.
Now for the ending... while everything technically wraps up, I felt like I might've needed just a little more. One or two extra chapters to really wrap it up with a red bow.
Overall, it was interesting and definitely readable, just maybe not what I hoped it will be.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The perfect Valentine's Day thriller! Olivia previously wrote an absolutely unhinged FMC in So Happy Together and she's back with another banger of a thriller that also revolves around love and an unreliable leading lady with questionable choices.
We follow romance author, Ivy, who meets the "man of her dreams" by chance. The more she learns about him, she realizes she's already met him, as the main character of the book she's currently writing. 😳 The coincidences pile up and secrets from her past come bubbling to the surface. Who is this man and what secrets from her past is she hiding from?!
What I loved about the story: fast paced and stacked with twists you won't see coming. I was immediately hooked and loved the past vs present timelines as you try to decipher the twisted past she's running from. Pub day: 6/2/26
We follow romance author, Ivy, who meets the "man of her dreams" by chance. The more she learns about him, she realizes she's already met him, as the main character of the book she's currently writing. 😳 The coincidences pile up and secrets from her past come bubbling to the surface. Who is this man and what secrets from her past is she hiding from?!
What I loved about the story: fast paced and stacked with twists you won't see coming. I was immediately hooked and loved the past vs present timelines as you try to decipher the twisted past she's running from. Pub day: 6/2/26
March 3, 2026
Twists and turns galore, this was a guessing game until the end. I loved the timelines and switch ups for this story. I really didn’t know where it was going, or which characters to trust, and that’s the best part of a thriller. I would’ve liked a bit more info at the end, but regardless it was a fun read.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
February 14, 2026
This was a fast-paced roller coaster with all the twists and turns. The pacing did not let up and the surprises kept coming. Wild, messy, outlandish and an absolute ball to read. This is the perfect read in a day type of book.
Best selling author Ivy has her very own meet-cute moment she literally falls into a man’s arms while trying to save his dog. This was not just any man but the real life version of the main character in the new book she’s writing. Strange stuff starts to happen to Ivy - weird packages and messages on instagram. Can she trust her new perfect boyfriend? Can she trust herself? You won’t want to stop turning the pages to find out what really is going on here.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Best selling author Ivy has her very own meet-cute moment she literally falls into a man’s arms while trying to save his dog. This was not just any man but the real life version of the main character in the new book she’s writing. Strange stuff starts to happen to Ivy - weird packages and messages on instagram. Can she trust her new perfect boyfriend? Can she trust herself? You won’t want to stop turning the pages to find out what really is going on here.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
March 8, 2026
so addictive and fast-paced, i was invested from the very first page. the plot immediately pulled me in and it reminded me a lot of season one of YOU. an author meets the perfect book boyfriend, only he’s basically written straight out of her unpublished manuscript. same name, same glasses, same british accent, same job… a few coincidences too many 👀
i loved the nyc meet-cute energy layered with something much darker beneath the surface, where nothing is as it seems… even though i did see some twists coming, the pacing was incredible and kept the tension high the entire time. i’m still processing that ending and not sure how i feel about it, i definitely wanted more !!
thank you to netgalley & minotaur books for the advanced copy 💌 pub date: june 2026
💼💋🌆❤️🔥📓🔪
“Maybe I just need to accept that the only happily-ever-after in my future is fictional.”
i loved the nyc meet-cute energy layered with something much darker beneath the surface, where nothing is as it seems… even though i did see some twists coming, the pacing was incredible and kept the tension high the entire time. i’m still processing that ending and not sure how i feel about it, i definitely wanted more !!
thank you to netgalley & minotaur books for the advanced copy 💌 pub date: june 2026
💼💋🌆❤️🔥📓🔪
“Maybe I just need to accept that the only happily-ever-after in my future is fictional.”
February 18, 2026
This one sucked me in fast. Romance author meets literal walking book boyfriend. It’s a little unhinged and definitely has that “this is too perfect… what’s the catch?” vibe. It’s an easy and fun read with just enough chaos to keep it interesting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
January 28, 2026
Man of My Dreams was a mess in the best way possible. It was a wild ride from start to finish. The number of twists in this book were absolutely insane.
Go in blind & pick this one up when it’s released on June 2nd.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Go in blind & pick this one up when it’s released on June 2nd.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I went into this book expecting a romance gone wrong with a little bit of crazy.
What I got instead? Almost all crazy… with just a hint of romance.
And honestly, I loved that for this book.
This story leans hard into the psychological side, constantly keeping you off balance. You never quite know who to believe, what’s real, or where things are heading, and that uneasy feeling sticks with you the entire time. It’s messy, unsettling, and just the right amount of unhinged.
Every time I thought I had it figured out, the story twisted in a different direction. It definitely wasn’t the book I expected, but it ended up being way more interesting because of that.
Not a full five stars for me, but it was gripping, unpredictable, and totally kept my attention.
If you’re going in for romance, you might be thrown, but if you like your stories darker and a little chaotic, this one delivers.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book for my honest review.
What I got instead? Almost all crazy… with just a hint of romance.
And honestly, I loved that for this book.
This story leans hard into the psychological side, constantly keeping you off balance. You never quite know who to believe, what’s real, or where things are heading, and that uneasy feeling sticks with you the entire time. It’s messy, unsettling, and just the right amount of unhinged.
Every time I thought I had it figured out, the story twisted in a different direction. It definitely wasn’t the book I expected, but it ended up being way more interesting because of that.
Not a full five stars for me, but it was gripping, unpredictable, and totally kept my attention.
If you’re going in for romance, you might be thrown, but if you like your stories darker and a little chaotic, this one delivers.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book for my honest review.
March 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.
I feel tricked.
And not in a “oh, this is a thriller. You got me!” I feel tricked, like this is not the book I signed up for.
The synopsis of this story has literally nothing to do with what this book is about. If the intention of it was to act as a smoke screen, it fell very flat. So flat, in fact, I’m actually almost irritated.
By page 86, the whole Liam storyline was laid on so thick, that it was very obvious nothing was happening on that front. Which then raised the question in my head: What on earth are the other 240-something pages about?
About 30 pages later, it hit me then that this was a mystery within a mystery. Or, more accurately, this was a “mystery” and a mystery.
Let me just say right now, and this is an entirely personal preference, I cannot stand that. I don’t mind multilayered mysteries. I don’t mind one door leading the reader down another rabbit hole. My issue is this: Smoke screens, especially when they are not well-done, can only be interpreted as a waste of time. As I’m sitting here now, all I’m thinking about is that Liam didn’t even need to exist. At all. Once I realized what the story was actually about and where it was going, I was irritated that I spent hours of my time reading a story that ultimately didn’t matter at all.
These are two different books smashed into one. None of which were concluded. If it’s meant to open the door for a sequel, I promise it can stay in the drafts.
The plot that we were fed, that made me want to read the book in the first place, was entirely abandoned for another plot so predictable and simultaneously ridiculous that the only real thing that shocked me was the fact that I finished the book at all.
I feel tricked.
And not in a “oh, this is a thriller. You got me!” I feel tricked, like this is not the book I signed up for.
The synopsis of this story has literally nothing to do with what this book is about. If the intention of it was to act as a smoke screen, it fell very flat. So flat, in fact, I’m actually almost irritated.
By page 86, the whole Liam storyline was laid on so thick, that it was very obvious nothing was happening on that front. Which then raised the question in my head: What on earth are the other 240-something pages about?
About 30 pages later, it hit me then that this was a mystery within a mystery. Or, more accurately, this was a “mystery” and a mystery.
Let me just say right now, and this is an entirely personal preference, I cannot stand that. I don’t mind multilayered mysteries. I don’t mind one door leading the reader down another rabbit hole. My issue is this: Smoke screens, especially when they are not well-done, can only be interpreted as a waste of time. As I’m sitting here now, all I’m thinking about is that Liam didn’t even need to exist. At all. Once I realized what the story was actually about and where it was going, I was irritated that I spent hours of my time reading a story that ultimately didn’t matter at all.
These are two different books smashed into one. None of which were concluded. If it’s meant to open the door for a sequel, I promise it can stay in the drafts.
The plot that we were fed, that made me want to read the book in the first place, was entirely abandoned for another plot so predictable and simultaneously ridiculous that the only real thing that shocked me was the fact that I finished the book at all.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Book of the year! Oh my gosh this book is great! My first ever advanced copy of a book and it was not a disappointment.
I was hooked from the beginning! Romantic- comedy turned psychological thriller mystery. So many twists you don't see coming yet still keeps the story line in place and keeps you guessing.
Absolutely LOVE this book! There were a few grammatical errors such as missing words from sentences, but I'm sure that will be fixed when published. I will definitely be buying another copy in June!
I was hooked from the beginning! Romantic- comedy turned psychological thriller mystery. So many twists you don't see coming yet still keeps the story line in place and keeps you guessing.
Absolutely LOVE this book! There were a few grammatical errors such as missing words from sentences, but I'm sure that will be fixed when published. I will definitely be buying another copy in June!
February 22, 2026
2.5 rounded up. The good: you think you’re reading one story but it turns out you’re reading an entirely different one. I couldn’t have predicted where this was going and it was entertaining. An original story for sure.
But too much of this just didn’t work for me and I found myself skimming in the middle to find out what the deal is. The MC keeps hinting at secrets and a memory problem and not trusting her instincts but it takes so long to get anywhere. I got frustrated with how many times she hinted the same things without getting a single answer. She was also bumbling as an author which was a weird trait to give her. Some of the coincidences also felt contrived.
I think this author might not be for me but that shouldn’t stop you from giving her books a try!
Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
But too much of this just didn’t work for me and I found myself skimming in the middle to find out what the deal is. The MC keeps hinting at secrets and a memory problem and not trusting her instincts but it takes so long to get anywhere. I got frustrated with how many times she hinted the same things without getting a single answer. She was also bumbling as an author which was a weird trait to give her. Some of the coincidences also felt contrived.
I think this author might not be for me but that shouldn’t stop you from giving her books a try!
Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If something seems too good to be true, there’s usually a catch—or at least a reason to stay alert!
A romance author, Ivy Harcourt, finds her fictional character seemingly coming to life when she meets the charming architect Liam, who fits the description of her book's love interest. As their whirlwind relationship blossoms, Ivy faces doubts about Liam's perfection and secrets, paralleling her own hidden truths.
This story unfolds across two timelines, introducing us to Ivy, Cora, and quite unexpectedly, Liam. The way these two meet is downright bizarre, and I was left wondering what kind of book Ivy was writing. It feels so improbable, yet here we are! The whole time I was questioning, what on earth is going on? While there was an explanation revealed later on, the initial hook had me glued to the page—and I simply couldn’t put the book down. After all, who blacks out when they're drunk? That sounds like a disaster waiting to unfold!
Jumping back eleven years, we dive deeper into Ivy and Cora’s world. There’s so much to discover! Without giving too much away, the revelations about Cora completely left me speechless, especially when one of the major twists hit me—wait, what??? The lies just kept piling up until all hell breaks loose.
I really enjoyed the writing and the constant guessing game. Everyone close to Ivy became a potential suspect in my mind. You could say I’ve developed some trust issues! The unexpected twists caught me off guard, and they were artfully executed. The ending was nothing short of mind-blowing, and I practically wanted to throw the book across the room because everything tied together so perfectly! I loved every bit of this book—and let’s not forget the stunning cover! You know how I feel; I'm all about the cover, and the blurb? Not so much!
This book is ideal for anyone eager to unravel a mystery within a mystery—especially those who enjoy a story about another story. It’s clever, perfectly timed, and the twists come crashing in like waves on a stormy day. So, if you're up for a mix of romance, suspense, and a murder mystery with a bit of a past to uncover, this is definitely for you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to take a breather because my mind is spinning from everything that just unfolded! Ha!
Thank you, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A romance author, Ivy Harcourt, finds her fictional character seemingly coming to life when she meets the charming architect Liam, who fits the description of her book's love interest. As their whirlwind relationship blossoms, Ivy faces doubts about Liam's perfection and secrets, paralleling her own hidden truths.
This story unfolds across two timelines, introducing us to Ivy, Cora, and quite unexpectedly, Liam. The way these two meet is downright bizarre, and I was left wondering what kind of book Ivy was writing. It feels so improbable, yet here we are! The whole time I was questioning, what on earth is going on? While there was an explanation revealed later on, the initial hook had me glued to the page—and I simply couldn’t put the book down. After all, who blacks out when they're drunk? That sounds like a disaster waiting to unfold!
Jumping back eleven years, we dive deeper into Ivy and Cora’s world. There’s so much to discover! Without giving too much away, the revelations about Cora completely left me speechless, especially when one of the major twists hit me—wait, what??? The lies just kept piling up until all hell breaks loose.
I really enjoyed the writing and the constant guessing game. Everyone close to Ivy became a potential suspect in my mind. You could say I’ve developed some trust issues! The unexpected twists caught me off guard, and they were artfully executed. The ending was nothing short of mind-blowing, and I practically wanted to throw the book across the room because everything tied together so perfectly! I loved every bit of this book—and let’s not forget the stunning cover! You know how I feel; I'm all about the cover, and the blurb? Not so much!
This book is ideal for anyone eager to unravel a mystery within a mystery—especially those who enjoy a story about another story. It’s clever, perfectly timed, and the twists come crashing in like waves on a stormy day. So, if you're up for a mix of romance, suspense, and a murder mystery with a bit of a past to uncover, this is definitely for you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to take a breather because my mind is spinning from everything that just unfolded! Ha!
Thank you, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 26, 2026
I really liked this twisty romantic thriller which included some of my favorite things: a novel about a novelist, multiple timelines, and a main character who doesn't even find herself to be a reliable narrator. Our girl Ivy has some family history that has caused sleepwalking and blackouts. She has kept it pretty well under control, though, and managed to write a successful debut novel. She's been promoting the book hard, but putting herself out there has brought some unwanted attention which she worries may be triggering her memory lapses. Or maybe she's actually losing her mind a little (she worries), because she meets a cute guy, Liam, and his dog at the park... and he's just like the character she's writing for her next book. Like exactly the same: also named Liam, also British, also an architect... but maybe it's just coincidence? She's sorting out the coincidences from the red flags when things begin to spiral out of her control -- nothing that I will spoil for you here.
I did see one of the big twists coming, but that did not ruin the various other interesting reveals or the way the ending played out. Perfect for fans of romance novels where the late-act relationship problems do not resolve with a happily ever after, and people who support women's wrongs.
I did see one of the big twists coming, but that did not ruin the various other interesting reveals or the way the ending played out. Perfect for fans of romance novels where the late-act relationship problems do not resolve with a happily ever after, and people who support women's wrongs.
March 3, 2026
What happens when the male character in your new novel starts coming to life? What happens when he’s your dream man? Is it too good to be true?…
I might be back in my thriller era, THIS WAS SO GOOD!
I was hooked from the very start of this one & my attention never went elsewhere. I felt like I was a detective on a case analyzing every situation, reaction, body language. I had so many theories throughout this book & I did end up getting a big one correct but it took me to the very end to figure it out. THEN the plot twists just kept coming, & I did NOT see those coming.
This book took a completely different turn than what I was expecting. The past & present POV & the duel character POV really made the suspense 10x better. I felt like every single chapter we’d get a little bit more to the story, it was so hard to put down!
I might be back in my thriller era, THIS WAS SO GOOD!
I was hooked from the very start of this one & my attention never went elsewhere. I felt like I was a detective on a case analyzing every situation, reaction, body language. I had so many theories throughout this book & I did end up getting a big one correct but it took me to the very end to figure it out. THEN the plot twists just kept coming, & I did NOT see those coming.
This book took a completely different turn than what I was expecting. The past & present POV & the duel character POV really made the suspense 10x better. I felt like every single chapter we’d get a little bit more to the story, it was so hard to put down!
April 8, 2026
Fuck. THIS is how you write a god damn thriller. I’ve always been a fan, enjoying her adult books more than her YA, but this is 1000% her best yet. It’s brilliant. I did figure it out, but I had a few theories, and it kept me guessing the ENTIRE time.
I absolutely fucking loved that ending and the back and forth and it was already a quick, thrilling read but when it got to part three…holy shit. I couldn’t breathe or read fast enough from the tension. I’m truly speechless with how brilliantly this all came together. Everyone needs this on their summer list.
I absolutely fucking loved that ending and the back and forth and it was already a quick, thrilling read but when it got to part three…holy shit. I couldn’t breathe or read fast enough from the tension. I’m truly speechless with how brilliantly this all came together. Everyone needs this on their summer list.
March 3, 2026
Wow- this book was a wild ride. It starts out with a meet/cute, grabs hold of your attention and doesn’t let go until the end. There were so many different storylines that led to crazy twists, but somehow they were all tied up with a bow in the end. I can honestly say that I had no idea how this book would end and it had me guessing until the very last page.
Want to Read
March 5, 2026💭📖 Man of My Dreams 📖💭
I am so excited to start this ARC!
🔎 What to Expect
• Unreliable narrator
• Sus perfect boyfriend
• Author MC
• Meet cute gone wrong
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
I am so excited to start this ARC!
🔎 What to Expect
• Unreliable narrator
• Sus perfect boyfriend
• Author MC
• Meet cute gone wrong
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
April 22, 2026
4.5 stars! ✨ what a journey this book took me on!! Found it hard to put down!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Man of My Dreams” by Olivia Worley starts out like a glossy rom-com with the stereotypical meet-cute, charm, and a dash of wish fulfillment, and then calmly pulls the rug out from under you. What follows is a twisty psychological thriller that plays with fantasy, paranoia, and the dangerous gap between the stories we tell ourselves and the truth we’re trying not to see.
Ivy Harcourt is a bestselling romance author who knows how love is supposed to work on the page, even if her real-life dating history is a mess. So when she meets Liam, a charming British architect who is uncannily similar to the male lead in her current novel, it feels like fate. Or manifestation. Or something far more unsettling. The romance accelerates quickly, and at first it’s easy to lean into the fantasy right along with Ivy…until cracks start to appear.
Strange coincidences pile up. Ivy believes she’s being stalked by someone who knows where she lives. Her paranoia intensifies, fueled by past trauma, childhood secrets, and a history of sleepwalking she can’t fully explain. Ivy is an unreliable narrator in the best way: the book constantly makes you question whether the danger is real or whether everything is happening inside her head right up until an ex-boyfriend is murdered, and the story takes a sharp, undeniable turn into thriller territory.
What makes this book stand out is that the central mystery isn’t actually about whether Liam is “the bad guy.” That question becomes something of a red herring. Instead, the heart of the story lies in Ivy herself and the deeply buried truth about her childhood, her parents, and especially her sister. Flashback chapters from her sister’s perspective reveal an isolated, traumatic upbringing and add emotional weight and slowly reframe everything Ivy thinks she knows about her past.
Worley’s tone is razor-sharp. She balances humor, romance, and creeping dread so effectively that the book never settles into a single genre. The pacing is tight, the twists are frequent, and while some coincidences stretch believability, they’re easy to forgive because the emotional logic holds. The final act delivers multiple revelations, including a major twist that genuinely catches you off guard, capped with a last-minute stinger that seals the experience.
Ivy isn’t a villain so much as a product of her circumstances; she is deeply flawed, self-destructive, and painfully human. Watching her unravel and then finally confront the truth is unsettling and satisfying in equal measure.
Overall, “Man of My Dreams” is a clever, subversive thriller that weaponizes rom-com fantasy and turns it into something dark and compulsively readable. If you enjoy unreliable narrators, meta storytelling, and romances that make you deeply suspicious from page one, this book is absolutely worth the ride. Come for the meet-cute and stay for the psychological free fall.
“Man of My Dreams” by Olivia Worley starts out like a glossy rom-com with the stereotypical meet-cute, charm, and a dash of wish fulfillment, and then calmly pulls the rug out from under you. What follows is a twisty psychological thriller that plays with fantasy, paranoia, and the dangerous gap between the stories we tell ourselves and the truth we’re trying not to see.
Ivy Harcourt is a bestselling romance author who knows how love is supposed to work on the page, even if her real-life dating history is a mess. So when she meets Liam, a charming British architect who is uncannily similar to the male lead in her current novel, it feels like fate. Or manifestation. Or something far more unsettling. The romance accelerates quickly, and at first it’s easy to lean into the fantasy right along with Ivy…until cracks start to appear.
Strange coincidences pile up. Ivy believes she’s being stalked by someone who knows where she lives. Her paranoia intensifies, fueled by past trauma, childhood secrets, and a history of sleepwalking she can’t fully explain. Ivy is an unreliable narrator in the best way: the book constantly makes you question whether the danger is real or whether everything is happening inside her head right up until an ex-boyfriend is murdered, and the story takes a sharp, undeniable turn into thriller territory.
What makes this book stand out is that the central mystery isn’t actually about whether Liam is “the bad guy.” That question becomes something of a red herring. Instead, the heart of the story lies in Ivy herself and the deeply buried truth about her childhood, her parents, and especially her sister. Flashback chapters from her sister’s perspective reveal an isolated, traumatic upbringing and add emotional weight and slowly reframe everything Ivy thinks she knows about her past.
Worley’s tone is razor-sharp. She balances humor, romance, and creeping dread so effectively that the book never settles into a single genre. The pacing is tight, the twists are frequent, and while some coincidences stretch believability, they’re easy to forgive because the emotional logic holds. The final act delivers multiple revelations, including a major twist that genuinely catches you off guard, capped with a last-minute stinger that seals the experience.
Ivy isn’t a villain so much as a product of her circumstances; she is deeply flawed, self-destructive, and painfully human. Watching her unravel and then finally confront the truth is unsettling and satisfying in equal measure.
Overall, “Man of My Dreams” is a clever, subversive thriller that weaponizes rom-com fantasy and turns it into something dark and compulsively readable. If you enjoy unreliable narrators, meta storytelling, and romances that make you deeply suspicious from page one, this book is absolutely worth the ride. Come for the meet-cute and stay for the psychological free fall.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My two favorite genres collide in the most addictive way here: a romcom–meet-cute wrapped inside a mystery and psychological thriller.
This is absolutely the kind of book you devour in one sitting—heart racing, pages flying, brain working overtime as you try to piece together what really happened eleven years ago, how the fire started, who’s stalking whom, and who the real villain of this story truly is. I kept forming theory after theory, burning brain cells while asking myself the same question over and over: How can someone like Liam even exist? Isn’t he way too good to be true?
The story centers on bestselling romance author Ivy Harcourt, whose life suddenly feels like it’s stepping right out of one of her own novels. She literally has her own meet-cute when she rescues an adorable runaway dog… only to discover it belongs to its ridiculously handsome owner—a British architect named Liam, who is uncannily similar to the hero of her latest book. Even his workplace matches the one she wrote. It’s like she wrote herself a love spell and the universe decided to deliver.
But Ivy’s seemingly perfect world starts to crack when she begins receiving terrifying messages from an anonymous online stalker using the name Heathcliff—a twisted nod to her own novel, a happier reimagining of Wuthering Heights. The messages accuse her of being a fraud and prove that someone knows where she lives and what she’s hiding. Things spiral even further when her ex-boyfriend Xavier shows up at a book signing, making chilling comments about what really happened eleven years ago—the tragic event that reshaped her entire life. Suddenly, Ivy realizes someone out there knows her secrets, and they’re ready to destroy everything she’s built.
I loved how cleverly the author plays with Ivy’s perspective, constantly making us question what’s real and what might be delusion. Is Ivy sleepwalking? Is she still haunted by trauma that never healed? Can she trust Liam when he seems so impossibly perfect? When everything in your life feels like it’s coming apart, how do you know whether love is real—or just another trap?
Even though some twists were predictable, the pacing is absolutely electric. The pressure keeps building until you feel like you’re hyperventilating alongside Ivy. The story never slows down, and I found myself glued to the pages, reading way too fast, desperate to know how it all ends. (Yes, my eyes definitely paid the price for that.)
I was so close to giving this five stars. The relentless pacing alone almost pushed it there, even with a few plot holes. I ended up settling at 3.5 stars mostly because the ending didn’t quite land for me—it was sinister and interesting, but I wanted something a little more satisfying. Honestly, I would have loved an extra epilogue, maybe even from prison.
Still, I’m absolutely planning to read more from Olivia Worley. I loved her fast-paced, romantic-thriller style, and I’m thrilled to have found another auto-approved author for myself.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for sharing this irresistible page-turner’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. 💖📚
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This is absolutely the kind of book you devour in one sitting—heart racing, pages flying, brain working overtime as you try to piece together what really happened eleven years ago, how the fire started, who’s stalking whom, and who the real villain of this story truly is. I kept forming theory after theory, burning brain cells while asking myself the same question over and over: How can someone like Liam even exist? Isn’t he way too good to be true?
The story centers on bestselling romance author Ivy Harcourt, whose life suddenly feels like it’s stepping right out of one of her own novels. She literally has her own meet-cute when she rescues an adorable runaway dog… only to discover it belongs to its ridiculously handsome owner—a British architect named Liam, who is uncannily similar to the hero of her latest book. Even his workplace matches the one she wrote. It’s like she wrote herself a love spell and the universe decided to deliver.
But Ivy’s seemingly perfect world starts to crack when she begins receiving terrifying messages from an anonymous online stalker using the name Heathcliff—a twisted nod to her own novel, a happier reimagining of Wuthering Heights. The messages accuse her of being a fraud and prove that someone knows where she lives and what she’s hiding. Things spiral even further when her ex-boyfriend Xavier shows up at a book signing, making chilling comments about what really happened eleven years ago—the tragic event that reshaped her entire life. Suddenly, Ivy realizes someone out there knows her secrets, and they’re ready to destroy everything she’s built.
I loved how cleverly the author plays with Ivy’s perspective, constantly making us question what’s real and what might be delusion. Is Ivy sleepwalking? Is she still haunted by trauma that never healed? Can she trust Liam when he seems so impossibly perfect? When everything in your life feels like it’s coming apart, how do you know whether love is real—or just another trap?
Even though some twists were predictable, the pacing is absolutely electric. The pressure keeps building until you feel like you’re hyperventilating alongside Ivy. The story never slows down, and I found myself glued to the pages, reading way too fast, desperate to know how it all ends. (Yes, my eyes definitely paid the price for that.)
I was so close to giving this five stars. The relentless pacing alone almost pushed it there, even with a few plot holes. I ended up settling at 3.5 stars mostly because the ending didn’t quite land for me—it was sinister and interesting, but I wanted something a little more satisfying. Honestly, I would have loved an extra epilogue, maybe even from prison.
Still, I’m absolutely planning to read more from Olivia Worley. I loved her fast-paced, romantic-thriller style, and I’m thrilled to have found another auto-approved author for myself.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for sharing this irresistible page-turner’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. 💖📚
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ah, a young romance novelist recovering from a recent break-up has the perfect meet cute with a man who's not only seemingly Mr. Right, he's so perfect that he's actually the male protagonist in the next book she's writing. At first blush, this would seem to be a romance novel about Ivy and Liam, but when threatening messages start appearing to Ivy the same time she meets Liam, the book transitions in the more sinister direction of a psychological thriller.
Is Liam really as perfect as he seems? He's almost too good to be true, and the timing is almost too much to be a coincidence when Ivy starts receiving threats. She's quickly falling in love with him, but there's things that aren't adding up.
Ivy's ex, Xander, also makes a reappearance in her life around the same time, and his overtures to her seem more threatening than charming, especially since he seems to know about Ivy's big secret. Is he the one anonymously threatening her, or is it another person lurking in the shadows.
Ivy has secrets of her own from her past, and she also has a habit of sleepwalking, so she isn't a reliable narrator. She isn't the only narrator, however, as parts of the book are also told by Ivy's older sister Cora in the past, years before the family home burned down and left Ivy an orphan.
There's a twist associated with the fact that the book is told from these two perspectives, and it was one that was admittedly easy for me to guess. It also admittedly took away some of the thrill of whether or not the person stalking her was the man that Ivy was falling in love with. There are plenty of other twists too that slot neatly into the storyline, but none of them felt overly shocking to me.
But the ending. The ending is a twist as well, and I hated it. It isn't that it isn't plausible, but it just doesn't fit with the rhythm of the rest of the story, and I was really disappointed that Worley chose to end it that way. The version I read was an advanced copy, and on at least one other occasion where I read an advanced copy and advanced readers universally hated the ending the author actually changed it before the book went on sale. So there's hope that this might get changed to something that fits better with the rest of the story, but I'm not counting on it.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Is Liam really as perfect as he seems? He's almost too good to be true, and the timing is almost too much to be a coincidence when Ivy starts receiving threats. She's quickly falling in love with him, but there's things that aren't adding up.
Ivy's ex, Xander, also makes a reappearance in her life around the same time, and his overtures to her seem more threatening than charming, especially since he seems to know about Ivy's big secret. Is he the one anonymously threatening her, or is it another person lurking in the shadows.
Ivy has secrets of her own from her past, and she also has a habit of sleepwalking, so she isn't a reliable narrator. She isn't the only narrator, however, as parts of the book are also told by Ivy's older sister Cora in the past, years before the family home burned down and left Ivy an orphan.
There's a twist associated with the fact that the book is told from these two perspectives, and it was one that was admittedly easy for me to guess. It also admittedly took away some of the thrill of whether or not the person stalking her was the man that Ivy was falling in love with. There are plenty of other twists too that slot neatly into the storyline, but none of them felt overly shocking to me.
But the ending. The ending is a twist as well, and I hated it. It isn't that it isn't plausible, but it just doesn't fit with the rhythm of the rest of the story, and I was really disappointed that Worley chose to end it that way. The version I read was an advanced copy, and on at least one other occasion where I read an advanced copy and advanced readers universally hated the ending the author actually changed it before the book went on sale. So there's hope that this might get changed to something that fits better with the rest of the story, but I'm not counting on it.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow... this was a wild and fun ride. It was pretty close to a 5 star read for me. With that being said, there were a couple of reasons for holding back that rating.
The main character in this book, Ivy, had a "meet cute" with a man named Liam who was seemingly perfect. She loved that he was British, owned an adorable dog named after Frank Lloyd Wright, and owned a two story house in Manhattan. After just dealing with a break-up and knowing she would have to attend her best friend's wedding alone, she was shocked to meet an incredible man so quickly, let alone a man who was strikingly similar to the protaganist in the new novel she was working on. She was painting both red and white flags , thinking that his existance was too much of a coincidence and in the same breath, talking herself down. She had also developed a stalker, someone calling her a fraud, delivering her defaced copies of her first successful novel, and breaking into her email and apartment. She couldn't figure out if Liam was the guy holding her together or haunting her.
There was MUCH more to the book than initially met the eye. There was a lot happening under the surface that was unravelling throughout the story. During Parts 1-3, you learned more about Ivy's personal history with sleepwalking and the tragic house fire that took the lives of her family. While some pieces were entirely guessable, I mainly found myself thinking.... could New York really be that small of a place? I don't want to get into my thoughts toooo much because I don't want to give anything away... but overall I was both satisfied with how the story played out and scratching my head about all of the connections.
Overall, YES I would most definitely recommend this one. If I were reading this over the summer, I probably would've finished it within one afternoon by the pool. Unfortunately, the duty of real life and work interrupted that. Final thoughts... everyone needs a friend like Dani. Also, I love open-ended conclusions to books but this one has me DYING to know how everything ended up for these characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with this ARC! This was an anticpated read for me and it did not disappoint.
The main character in this book, Ivy, had a "meet cute" with a man named Liam who was seemingly perfect. She loved that he was British, owned an adorable dog named after Frank Lloyd Wright, and owned a two story house in Manhattan. After just dealing with a break-up and knowing she would have to attend her best friend's wedding alone, she was shocked to meet an incredible man so quickly, let alone a man who was strikingly similar to the protaganist in the new novel she was working on. She was painting both red and white flags , thinking that his existance was too much of a coincidence and in the same breath, talking herself down. She had also developed a stalker, someone calling her a fraud, delivering her defaced copies of her first successful novel, and breaking into her email and apartment. She couldn't figure out if Liam was the guy holding her together or haunting her.
There was MUCH more to the book than initially met the eye. There was a lot happening under the surface that was unravelling throughout the story. During Parts 1-3, you learned more about Ivy's personal history with sleepwalking and the tragic house fire that took the lives of her family. While some pieces were entirely guessable, I mainly found myself thinking.... could New York really be that small of a place? I don't want to get into my thoughts toooo much because I don't want to give anything away... but overall I was both satisfied with how the story played out and scratching my head about all of the connections.
Overall, YES I would most definitely recommend this one. If I were reading this over the summer, I probably would've finished it within one afternoon by the pool. Unfortunately, the duty of real life and work interrupted that. Final thoughts... everyone needs a friend like Dani. Also, I love open-ended conclusions to books but this one has me DYING to know how everything ended up for these characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with this ARC! This was an anticpated read for me and it did not disappoint.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ivy is a bestselling romance novelist, but in her personal life she is struggling with flashbacks of the fire that killed her family and memory issues. When she meets Liam, he seems almost like he stepped out of her romance-novel-in-progress, but he might be too good to be true.
This novel was not what I expected when I read the description, but I’m not upset about that! What was sort of a romantic thriller also turned out to be a powerful mystery-thriller about sisterhood, family, mental health and guilt. Our protagonist, Ivy, struggles with a dissociative disorder where she sleepwalks and forgets about what she has done. She’s definitely an unreliable narrator, and it’s written very well, in a similar way to in A Slow and Secret Poison by Carmella Lowkis. If you liked the prequel novella to the Pretty Little Liars series, Ali’s Pretty Little Lies, or We Were Liars, you’ll enjoy this one. I was also pleasantly surprised by one of the POV characters being bisexual.
Liam was interesting, although he wasn’t really the selling point of the book for me. The selling point was how complex a character and narrator Ivy was, and the family saga aspect of the book. I will say that if you are triggered by depictions factitious disorder imposed on another (formerly called Munchausen by proxy), this may be a difficult book for you, but it’s perfectly in line with reading a family saga thriller.
This novel is also dual-POV and dual-timeline, and I thought both of those elements were done well. This is one of those books, like Gone Girl, where if you are me, you will not get upset and chuck the (virtual) book at the wall over a mid-to-late-book POV switch that makes no sense, which is an experience I’ve had before when reading fantasy novels. They both just make sense for the story the author is telling. I thought I had the twists figured out in my mind at 8%, and I was… only partially correct, which was refreshing.
Man of My Dreams releases June 2 from Minotaur Books. Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Olivia Worley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This novel was not what I expected when I read the description, but I’m not upset about that! What was sort of a romantic thriller also turned out to be a powerful mystery-thriller about sisterhood, family, mental health and guilt. Our protagonist, Ivy, struggles with a dissociative disorder where she sleepwalks and forgets about what she has done. She’s definitely an unreliable narrator, and it’s written very well, in a similar way to in A Slow and Secret Poison by Carmella Lowkis. If you liked the prequel novella to the Pretty Little Liars series, Ali’s Pretty Little Lies, or We Were Liars, you’ll enjoy this one. I was also pleasantly surprised by one of the POV characters being bisexual.
Liam was interesting, although he wasn’t really the selling point of the book for me. The selling point was how complex a character and narrator Ivy was, and the family saga aspect of the book. I will say that if you are triggered by depictions factitious disorder imposed on another (formerly called Munchausen by proxy), this may be a difficult book for you, but it’s perfectly in line with reading a family saga thriller.
This novel is also dual-POV and dual-timeline, and I thought both of those elements were done well. This is one of those books, like Gone Girl, where if you are me, you will not get upset and chuck the (virtual) book at the wall over a mid-to-late-book POV switch that makes no sense, which is an experience I’ve had before when reading fantasy novels. They both just make sense for the story the author is telling. I thought I had the twists figured out in my mind at 8%, and I was… only partially correct, which was refreshing.
Man of My Dreams releases June 2 from Minotaur Books. Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Olivia Worley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
1.75 stars
A blatant bait and switch, I picked up Man of My Dreams primarily for its meta-sounding premise: a female author meets a man who appears to be a carbon copy of the imagined hero in her work-in-progress romance novel — can she trust him? The story promises a twisty blend of romance and thriller, but the synopsis ultimately feels like a clickbait, disguising something far less provocative. The 'mystery man' thread is resolved around the novel's halfway point (rather anticlimactically, I might add), and what follows shifts into a generic domestic thriller filled with tired tropes and cookie-cutter characters.
The writing is distractingly amateurish, with clunky similes and odd phrasing scattered throughout ('It was amazement.' / 'I need fast.'). Character behaviour also feels contrived in ways that don’t seem intentional, but simply a sign of carelessness in craftsmanship — for instance, when a character is hurriedly packing to run away and claims she’s only taking her 'essentials,' one of the first things she grabs is her toothbrush. Granted, I’m reading an advance review copy where further editing may still take place, but writing style isn’t something that can be drastically overhauled at this stage, and here it feels underdeveloped even compares to some debut authors' ARCs I’ve read.
Sadly, Man of My Dreams doesn’t work for me. Olivia Worley’s prose constantly pulls me out of her story; I almost wish it has leaned into a more blunt, straightforward style (akin to Freida McFadden) instead of reaching for something more sophisticated and landing somewhere strained and awkward. I also can’t shake the feeling that I was misled by its marketing into picking up a novel I otherwise wouldn’t have gravitated toward — though I suspect this reaction may vary, as I’ve seen other readers more receptive to the shift in plot direction. Overall, approach with caution.
***This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!***
A blatant bait and switch, I picked up Man of My Dreams primarily for its meta-sounding premise: a female author meets a man who appears to be a carbon copy of the imagined hero in her work-in-progress romance novel — can she trust him? The story promises a twisty blend of romance and thriller, but the synopsis ultimately feels like a clickbait, disguising something far less provocative. The 'mystery man' thread is resolved around the novel's halfway point (rather anticlimactically, I might add), and what follows shifts into a generic domestic thriller filled with tired tropes and cookie-cutter characters.
The writing is distractingly amateurish, with clunky similes and odd phrasing scattered throughout ('It was amazement.' / 'I need fast.'). Character behaviour also feels contrived in ways that don’t seem intentional, but simply a sign of carelessness in craftsmanship — for instance, when a character is hurriedly packing to run away and claims she’s only taking her 'essentials,' one of the first things she grabs is her toothbrush. Granted, I’m reading an advance review copy where further editing may still take place, but writing style isn’t something that can be drastically overhauled at this stage, and here it feels underdeveloped even compares to some debut authors' ARCs I’ve read.
Sadly, Man of My Dreams doesn’t work for me. Olivia Worley’s prose constantly pulls me out of her story; I almost wish it has leaned into a more blunt, straightforward style (akin to Freida McFadden) instead of reaching for something more sophisticated and landing somewhere strained and awkward. I also can’t shake the feeling that I was misled by its marketing into picking up a novel I otherwise wouldn’t have gravitated toward — though I suspect this reaction may vary, as I’ve seen other readers more receptive to the shift in plot direction. Overall, approach with caution.
***This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!***
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
OK, I think I may have found a "rom-com"-ish book that I can get behind!! 🤣🤣
Meet Cute ✅
Dreamy Leading Man✅
Quirky, hippie type aunt that raised FMC after her parents died ✅
But then- the murder and mayhem!! ☠️
Secrets- ☑️
Unreliable characters-☑️
Murder?- ☑️
Great Pacing- ☑️
I mean who doesn't want all that in their rom-com??? 😅
Ivy Harcourt is a bestselling romance author. Though her real love life is filled with pat relationships that are lacking, and she hasn't had any luck on the dating scene. One day she meets Liam at the park. His dog has gotten loose and runs to Ivy. When she looks up at Liam- TADA!! However, she notices that Liam looks exactly like her hero in her last novel, and even has the same job as the fictional man did! Liam is kind and courteous, and the two begin dating.
Soon after, Ivy begins receiving disturbing messages from someone named "Heathcliff:, and she begins to question whether she can trust Liam. Then her ex boyfriend shows up at a signing, making claims about things that Ivy has tried to keep secret for 11 years. Add to this, her aunt (whom I really liked!), keeps asking her how she is feeling, and sometimes seems a bit concerned, and you realize that you aren't sure which character is trustworthy.
This is a evenly paced book. As secrets are revealed, you are left wondering what is the truth? Who is really leaving messages and messing with everyone's head? And yet, Liam still hangs on to Ivy! Agghhh, sweet love!
The only reason for 4 stars... I wish we had an epilogue or next chapter from the perspective of the character that is away at the time!
Overall, a fun read. If you are like me and have found that rom-com's which you used to love just aren't doing it for you- you might want to give this twisted romance/thriller a shot!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Meet Cute ✅
Dreamy Leading Man✅
Quirky, hippie type aunt that raised FMC after her parents died ✅
But then- the murder and mayhem!! ☠️
Secrets- ☑️
Unreliable characters-☑️
Murder?- ☑️
Great Pacing- ☑️
I mean who doesn't want all that in their rom-com??? 😅
Ivy Harcourt is a bestselling romance author. Though her real love life is filled with pat relationships that are lacking, and she hasn't had any luck on the dating scene. One day she meets Liam at the park. His dog has gotten loose and runs to Ivy. When she looks up at Liam- TADA!! However, she notices that Liam looks exactly like her hero in her last novel, and even has the same job as the fictional man did! Liam is kind and courteous, and the two begin dating.
Soon after, Ivy begins receiving disturbing messages from someone named "Heathcliff:, and she begins to question whether she can trust Liam. Then her ex boyfriend shows up at a signing, making claims about things that Ivy has tried to keep secret for 11 years. Add to this, her aunt (whom I really liked!), keeps asking her how she is feeling, and sometimes seems a bit concerned, and you realize that you aren't sure which character is trustworthy.
This is a evenly paced book. As secrets are revealed, you are left wondering what is the truth? Who is really leaving messages and messing with everyone's head? And yet, Liam still hangs on to Ivy! Agghhh, sweet love!
The only reason for 4 stars... I wish we had an epilogue or next chapter from the perspective of the character that is away at the time!
Overall, a fun read. If you are like me and have found that rom-com's which you used to love just aren't doing it for you- you might want to give this twisted romance/thriller a shot!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC!
First of all, I was so intrigued by the blurb explaining our main character, bestselling romance author Ivy, had her very own meet-cute with a British architect named Liam. Did I mention this meet-cute involved a dog wingman?! This would be merely cute on its own, but what snagged me was that Liam fit the exact same description and had the same name of the male love interest in the book Ivy is currently writing. I needed to know what was going on there.
Man of My Dreams is a fast-paced, highly readable blend of mystery, thriller, and romance. It pulls you in quickly with an intriguing premise (as mentioned above) and dual timelines/POVs. The story moves between the present-day perspective of Ivy and the past perspective of her older sister Cleo, gradually revealing the formative events that shape everything that follows. This structure works well and kept me engaged, especially in the first half as the tension builds and the line between reality and perception begins to blur, a sense of uncertainty clinging to everything.
The novel is at its strongest when it leans into that uncertainty, especially Ivy's struggle to make sense of what's real vs. imagined, and how her past continues to surface in unsettling ways. The pacing and accessibility make it an easy story to move through, and keeps the reader guessing.
Where it started to lose me some was in the execution of its twists and character dynamics. The narrative repeatedly pushes suspicion toward a single person in a way that began to feel a bit forced, and the back and forth between mistrust and romantic certainty started to give me emotional whiplash. By the time the full truth is revealed at the end, the story leans heavily into dramatic twists that don't really feel grounded in the emotional logic of the characters, but that could probably be more compelling in concept if there was time to explore.
Overall, I thought this was an engaging and entertaining read with an interesting premise; I just wasn't feeling the execution as much as I'd have liked. Readers who love romantic thrillers should give this one a try!
First of all, I was so intrigued by the blurb explaining our main character, bestselling romance author Ivy, had her very own meet-cute with a British architect named Liam. Did I mention this meet-cute involved a dog wingman?! This would be merely cute on its own, but what snagged me was that Liam fit the exact same description and had the same name of the male love interest in the book Ivy is currently writing. I needed to know what was going on there.
Man of My Dreams is a fast-paced, highly readable blend of mystery, thriller, and romance. It pulls you in quickly with an intriguing premise (as mentioned above) and dual timelines/POVs. The story moves between the present-day perspective of Ivy and the past perspective of her older sister Cleo, gradually revealing the formative events that shape everything that follows. This structure works well and kept me engaged, especially in the first half as the tension builds and the line between reality and perception begins to blur, a sense of uncertainty clinging to everything.
The novel is at its strongest when it leans into that uncertainty, especially Ivy's struggle to make sense of what's real vs. imagined, and how her past continues to surface in unsettling ways. The pacing and accessibility make it an easy story to move through, and keeps the reader guessing.
Where it started to lose me some was in the execution of its twists and character dynamics. The narrative repeatedly pushes suspicion toward a single person in a way that began to feel a bit forced, and the back and forth between mistrust and romantic certainty started to give me emotional whiplash. By the time the full truth is revealed at the end, the story leans heavily into dramatic twists that don't really feel grounded in the emotional logic of the characters, but that could probably be more compelling in concept if there was time to explore.
Overall, I thought this was an engaging and entertaining read with an interesting premise; I just wasn't feeling the execution as much as I'd have liked. Readers who love romantic thrillers should give this one a try!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I very much enjoyed Olivia Worley’s previous books, Final Cut and People to Follow, and I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed with Man of My Dreams. Worley has become one of my must-read authors.
Ivy Harcourt has had a rough life after her parents and sister passed away when she was young, and she has struggled to survive ever since. She couldn’t believe her luck when she sold her first book and is now a best-selling author. Her love life seems to be on the upswing as well when she meets dreamy Liam. He’s so perfect, and he’s exactly like the male main character in her new book. However, strange things begin to happen to Ivy when it appears she’s being followed. Does she have a stalker, or is it something even more nefarious?
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the book. It started with a romance novel meet-cute, but soon developed into something far more twisty and suspenseful. I ended up reading this book in a couple of days because I couldn’t put it down!
Ivy didn’t trust Liam or even her own memory. She didn’t know what was real, and neither did I, as the reader. The book is presented in timelines between the present day and thirteen years earlier. The pacing was fantastic, and the author kept up the tension all the way to the end of the book.
Ivy was a bit too repetitive about her relationship with Liam. She kept saying she didn’t know whether she trusted him, but whenever he did something nice for her, she just set aside her earlier suspicions. She was annoying in that way, but Ivy was a character who had been so damaged by her past that she just wanted to be loved.
It was a great romance/thriller with a lot of twists and turns, and I’d definitely recommend it checking it out when it’s released!
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Ivy Harcourt has had a rough life after her parents and sister passed away when she was young, and she has struggled to survive ever since. She couldn’t believe her luck when she sold her first book and is now a best-selling author. Her love life seems to be on the upswing as well when she meets dreamy Liam. He’s so perfect, and he’s exactly like the male main character in her new book. However, strange things begin to happen to Ivy when it appears she’s being followed. Does she have a stalker, or is it something even more nefarious?
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the book. It started with a romance novel meet-cute, but soon developed into something far more twisty and suspenseful. I ended up reading this book in a couple of days because I couldn’t put it down!
Ivy didn’t trust Liam or even her own memory. She didn’t know what was real, and neither did I, as the reader. The book is presented in timelines between the present day and thirteen years earlier. The pacing was fantastic, and the author kept up the tension all the way to the end of the book.
Ivy was a bit too repetitive about her relationship with Liam. She kept saying she didn’t know whether she trusted him, but whenever he did something nice for her, she just set aside her earlier suspicions. She was annoying in that way, but Ivy was a character who had been so damaged by her past that she just wanted to be loved.
It was a great romance/thriller with a lot of twists and turns, and I’d definitely recommend it checking it out when it’s released!
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Man of My Dreams by Olivia Worley is a gripping, twist-filled read that perfectly blends romance with psychological suspense. It follows Ivy, a successful romance author whose career is built on crafting the perfect fictional men, until one of them seems to step right off the page and into her real life. When she meets a charming, attentive stranger who mirrors everything she has ever written about, it feels like fate, but it quickly becomes clear something is not quite right.
What makes this book so gripping is how it slowly unravels Ivy’s reality. Strange gaps in her memory, unsettling encounters, and inconsistencies in her relationships start piling up, creating a constant sense of unease. Worley plays brilliantly with the idea of perception, what is real, what is imagined, and how much of Ivy’s world and past can actually be trusted. The deeper you get, the more disorienting and addictive it becomes.
The relationship at the center of the story is both swoony and chilling. At first, it hits all the classic romance beats with chemistry, charm, and that too good to be true connection. But that is exactly where the tension lies. As red flags begin to surface, the story shifts into something much darker, exploring obsession, control, and the danger of idealizing someone to perfection.
Ivy herself is a standout character, complicated, vulnerable, and increasingly unreliable as the story progresses. Her struggles with memory and identity add emotional weight, and it is easy to root for her even while questioning her version of events. The writing captures her spiraling thoughts in a way that makes you feel just as trapped and uncertain as she is.
In the end, Man of My Dreams is a clever and unsettling exploration of love, fantasy, and the stories we tell ourselves. It is perfect for readers who enjoy romance with a dark edge and thrillers with real emotional depth.
What makes this book so gripping is how it slowly unravels Ivy’s reality. Strange gaps in her memory, unsettling encounters, and inconsistencies in her relationships start piling up, creating a constant sense of unease. Worley plays brilliantly with the idea of perception, what is real, what is imagined, and how much of Ivy’s world and past can actually be trusted. The deeper you get, the more disorienting and addictive it becomes.
The relationship at the center of the story is both swoony and chilling. At first, it hits all the classic romance beats with chemistry, charm, and that too good to be true connection. But that is exactly where the tension lies. As red flags begin to surface, the story shifts into something much darker, exploring obsession, control, and the danger of idealizing someone to perfection.
Ivy herself is a standout character, complicated, vulnerable, and increasingly unreliable as the story progresses. Her struggles with memory and identity add emotional weight, and it is easy to root for her even while questioning her version of events. The writing captures her spiraling thoughts in a way that makes you feel just as trapped and uncertain as she is.
In the end, Man of My Dreams is a clever and unsettling exploration of love, fantasy, and the stories we tell ourselves. It is perfect for readers who enjoy romance with a dark edge and thrillers with real emotional depth.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was really excited to pick up Man of My Dreams by Olivia Worley after reading and loving So Happy Together. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me the way I hoped it would.
The story follows bestselling romance author Ivy Harcourt, who has had far less success in her love life than in her writing career. Convinced there are no good dating prospects left in New York, Ivy unexpectedly meets Liam—a charming, British, and very attractive architect—after rescuing an escaped dog in the park. Liam seems almost too perfect, especially since he matches the exact description of the love interest in Ivy’s next book. Their connection quickly turns into a whirlwind romance, but as things move forward, Ivy starts to wonder if Liam might be hiding something… while she also has secrets of her own.
While the premise immediately hooked me, I struggled with the execution. The storyline felt jumbled and a bit all over the place, which made it difficult for me to stay fully engaged. At times the pacing felt slow, and I found myself not reaching for the book as often as I expected to. I think a lot of that came down to how confusing the storytelling felt for me personally.
That being said, this could absolutely be a “me problem.” I can see what the author was going for with the twists and layered storytelling, and other readers may enjoy the way the narrative unfolds. I also appreciated the overall concept and the blend of romance with a slightly darker, suspenseful edge.
Overall, Man of My Dreams had an interesting premise and some intriguing ideas, but the pacing and structure made it a tougher read for me than I anticipated. I’m still glad I gave it a try, and I’d definitely read more from Olivia Worley in the future.
The story follows bestselling romance author Ivy Harcourt, who has had far less success in her love life than in her writing career. Convinced there are no good dating prospects left in New York, Ivy unexpectedly meets Liam—a charming, British, and very attractive architect—after rescuing an escaped dog in the park. Liam seems almost too perfect, especially since he matches the exact description of the love interest in Ivy’s next book. Their connection quickly turns into a whirlwind romance, but as things move forward, Ivy starts to wonder if Liam might be hiding something… while she also has secrets of her own.
While the premise immediately hooked me, I struggled with the execution. The storyline felt jumbled and a bit all over the place, which made it difficult for me to stay fully engaged. At times the pacing felt slow, and I found myself not reaching for the book as often as I expected to. I think a lot of that came down to how confusing the storytelling felt for me personally.
That being said, this could absolutely be a “me problem.” I can see what the author was going for with the twists and layered storytelling, and other readers may enjoy the way the narrative unfolds. I also appreciated the overall concept and the blend of romance with a slightly darker, suspenseful edge.
Overall, Man of My Dreams had an interesting premise and some intriguing ideas, but the pacing and structure made it a tougher read for me than I anticipated. I’m still glad I gave it a try, and I’d definitely read more from Olivia Worley in the future.
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